U.S. 199-R.C.C. to Dowell Road project is nearly complete; contractor due back in spring 2012
The second phase of the U.S. 199 Expressway project, the R.C.C. to Dowell Road portion, is nearly complete. Contractor Knife River Corp. crews almost finished all contracted work on the project.

Crews will be back in the spring of 2012 to complete final paving of U.S. 199 and add medians and final striping.

This portion of the project will install a low-level raised median in the middle of the highway between R.C.C. and Dowell Road, similar to what was constructed in the first portion from RCC to Midway. In addition, a multi-use path will be constructed on the north side of the highway between Hubbard and Dowell, and a signal will be installed at Hubbard Lane.

Project Background

This portion of the project is part of the Highway 199 Expressway Environmental Assessment (EA) completed in 2008. It includes the entire corridor from near the South Y to Midway Avenue. The Federal Highway Administration has given approval for all phases of the project, including â€˜Alternative Aâ€™ in the eastern part of the corridor. This portion was selected by the projectâ€™s Citizens Advisory Committee and Project Development Team.

There is no money available for this urban portion of the project, so the timing for construction is dependent on funding and local political support

Highway 199 Conceptual Alternatives

Due to the differing characteristics of the study corridor (Tussey to Midway), the project has been broken up into two distinct solution areas. The East section faces challenges with higher congestion, lower speeds, and many more but less severe accidents. The West section is more rural with higher speeds and severe and fatal accidents. The east section is from Tussey to Dowell, and the west from Dowell to Midway.

One of the most dangerous highways in Josephine County is a roadway many of us drive nearly every day. Itâ€™s Highway 199 from Tussey Lane west to Midway.

The Oregon Department of Transportation is an alternative analysis for the corridor. Its goal is to reduce congestion and increase safety along the Highway 199 corridor, taking into account both local and through users. Increasing interstate and local traffic on Redwood Highway, along with increased development pressure on the corridor, have made this area unsafe and congested.

For instance, from 1998 through 2002, 283 crashes occurred on Redwood Highway between the Applegate River and the South Y intersection. The majority of these crashes occurred at signalized intersections and most were rear-end collisions. Several of the crashes resulted in the loss of life. Dowell Road and Willow Lane had 23 and 21 collisions, respectively and these tended to be the more serious "T-bone" crashes inherent at uncontrolled intersections.

The project has a Citizens Advisory Committee and Project Development Team, both of which have been meeting monthly since early 2005 are developing concepts to bring forward into an Environmental Analysis, a requirement on federally funded projects. The CAC will advise the Project Development Team, which will forward their decision to the Federal Highway Administration.